Edamah, the real estate arm of Bahrain Mumtalakat Holding Company (Mumtalakat), announced on the sidelines of Gateway Gulf Forum, organized by the Economic Development Board in Kingdom of Bahrain that Hawar Resort by Mantis, a pioneering tourism development on Bahrain’s Hawar Island, is scheduled to open to the public in early December 2024,  heralding a new era of luxury eco-tourism in the region.

Nestled on the west coast of Bahrain’s Hawar Island, Hawar Resort by Mantis is surrounded by a thriving wildlife sanctuary, posing to be one of the landmark environmentally-focused projects of its kind in the Middle East. The resort will feature 102 keys, including luxury overwater villas and beach villas; five dining concepts; and extensive sports and leisure facilities, such as the Adventure Park, Bear Grylls Survival Academy, which is a collaboration with UK television presenter and survival expert Bear Grylls.

His Excellency Shaikh Abdulla bin Khalifa Al Khalifa, CEO of Mumtalakat and Chairman of Edamah, said, “This project is of immense strategic importance to the Kingdom, reflecting our vision to promote sustainable tourism while showcasing Bahrain’s natural beauty and preserving it for future generations. The world-class offerings of Hawar Resort by Mantis will be a major addition to the Kingdom’s tourism landscape.”

Located 30 minutes from Bahrain’s main island, Hawar Island is an outstanding destination recognized by UNESCO for its natural history. Its pristine environment has been virtually undisturbed, resulting in a vibrant ecosystem that will appeal to nature lovers and adventure seekers.

Guests visiting the island will be treated to a diverse range of wildlife, such as sand gazelles, vibrant coral reefs, and endangered dugongs. Birdwatchers will be delighted by the various migratory birds, including Socotra cormorants. Additionally, guests can stay in overwater villas with direct access to the sea, enjoying exceptional service and the island’s stunning natural surroundings.

The development of the Hawar Resort by Mantis follows a sustainable and environmentally aware approach, respecting the unique environment of the island. Initiatives such as waste sorting, biodegradable waste reuse, and water and energy conservation technologies will minimize the project’s environmental impact. The property will also feature separate areas for relaxation and adventure.

Beyon BSC (Ticker: BEYON), unveiled plans for its ambitious 380,000 square meter Digital City project, located in Hamala, through a key signing ceremony with Bahrain Real Estate Investment Company (Edamah), the real estate arm of Bahrain Mumtalakat Holding Company (Mumtalakat).  The signing ceremony between the two entities took place during the opening day of the Gateway Gulf Investor Forum 2024 organized at the Four Seasons Hotel in Bahrain. Through the signing, Beyon named Edamah as the development manager for its signature project, for which construction is expected to begin in 2025.  Present at the signing ceremony were HE Sh. Abdulla bin Khalifa Al Khalifa, CEO of Mumtalakat and Chairman of Beyon and Edamah, as well as Andrew Kvalseth, CEO of Beyon, and Christopher Calvert, CEO of Edamah.

The Beyon Digital City project is anchored by the organization’s strategic intent to deliver digital transformation that tallies closely with Bahrain’s national digitalization drives.  The project is designed to seamlessly integrate the facets of connectivity, technology, and real estate establishing a new standard for mixed-use developments in Bahrain and meeting the requirements of advanced digital lifestyles as well as international standards and frameworks for smart cities.  Additionally, projects such as these have proven to be strategic enablers of both local and foreign direct investment and a means of economic stimulus, job creation and economic convergence across sectors.

Announcing the development, CEO Andrew Kvalseth said, “Beyon’s Digital City is more than just a project, it is a vision and benchmark for the future of urban living built upon the core tenets of Bahrain’s Vision 2030 that prioritize livability, sustainability, inclusivity and digitalization.  We ourselves hold these values at the core of our business in Beyon, and believe in supporting this vision, and Bahrain’s position as a symbol of a modern, connected nation.  We believe that this project will provide promising investment opportunities, especially for investors interested in sustainable growth and return on investment.”

Andrew Kvalseth further explained the main elements of the Digital City, “Beyon’s Digital City development, centers around three core pillars that mirror the organization’s brand principles and identity: People, Nature, and Technology.  Stemming from these are plans for the project’s prioritization of life and livability, fostering of green spaces, and embracing innovation and digital integration.”

Functionally, the dynamic mixed-use environment will include Beyon’s main headquarters, as well as R&D centers, healthcare facilities, fitness and recreation centers, and educational premises.  In addition, there will be contemporary office spaces, retail and dining areas, as well as hospitality and serviced apartments.  At the heart of the development lies a 1.2 km green, vehicle-free, boulevard that seamlessly unites these spaces, promoting a harmonious lifestyle.

The project’s backbone is its advanced telecommunications infrastructure, which will power IoT and AI systems, enabling real-time, data-driven urban management for optimal operational efficiency. Residents and visitors will benefit from enhanced user experiences through seamless digital services and the flexibility to integrate future smart technologies.

In line with Beyon’s commitment to sustainability, the Digital City aims for LEED certification for its buildings, utilizing renewable energy sources and implementing efficient resource management practices. Additionally, smart transportation solutions, including electric and autonomous vehicles and IoT-enabled traffic systems, will be integrated to optimize mobility and minimize environmental impact.

In bringing this vision to life, Beyon has partnered with Edamah who have been appointed to handle the project’s development management.  The decision is driven by Edamah’s ability to consistently, effectively and competently, deliver projects on time, in accordance with the highest international standards. Edamah CEO, Christopher Calvert, said, “We are excited to collaborate with Beyon on such a pioneering project. Our expertise in real estate development and construction will ensure that the Digital City is grounded in industry best practices while leveraging Beyon’s technological leadership to set new standards in smart, sustainable urban development.  This partnership allows for a seamless fusion of real estate and technology, ensuring the project not only meets but sets new standards in smart, sustainable urban development.”

The Digital City project represents a new benchmark for the GCC region, championing innovative, sustainable, and people-centric urban living that aligns with Bahrain’s national initiatives for digitalization and economic diversification.

The Labour Fund (Tamkeen) is pleased to announce the launch of a national program in collaboration with Amazon Web Services (AWS) aimed at developing and upskilling Bahraini talent in Artificial Intelligence.

This came as part of their participation in the second edition of the Gateway Gulf Investment Forum hosted by the Kingdom of Bahrain. Under the theme of “Investing in a Rapidly Transforming Region”, the forum attracts international participation from top government officials, business leaders, and executives.

On this occasion, Her Excellency Ms. Maha Abdulhameed Mofeez, Chief Executive of the Labour Fund (Tamkeen), emphasized Tamkeen’s commitment to enhancing programs and initiatives aimed at training and developing national talent in various fields, especially in the fields that utilize latest tech advancements, therefore enhancing their competitiveness in the labor. These efforts further emphasize Bahrain’s position as a global innovation hub.

The training program aims to equip Bahraini nationals to become professional AI generalists, AI specialists, and AI startup founders. In addition to knowledge exchange on AWS’s best practices in cloud computing, machine learning, and artificial intelligence.

Through this initiative, Tamkeen and AWS will provide the opportunity for Bahrainis to obtain three main qualifications related to generative artificial intelligence, implementing machine learning technologies in production and operations, and utilizing technology to address various business challenges. This partnership comes in alignment with Tamkeen’s 2024 strategic priorities focused on economic impact and the private sector under three pillars: increasing economic participation through new employment opportunities for new entrants, expanding career development opportunities available to Bahraini workforce, and further developing the private sector by supporting enterprises and boosting productivity and adoption of technology.    

The Labour Fund (Tamkeen) announced a partnership agreement with ARRAY, a leading provider of Artificial Intelligence (AI), enterprise software engineering and cloud solutions, to utilize ARRAY’s innovative solutions to enhance its services to customers, especially enterprises.

This came as part of their participation in the second edition of the Gateway Gulf Investment Forum hosted by the Kingdom of Bahrain. Under the theme of “Investing in a Rapidly Transforming Region”, the forum attracts international participation from top government officials, business leaders, and executives.

As part of this partnership, ARRAY will design specialized digital solutions for Tamkeen to facilitate job matching through Artificial Intelligence. The digital solutions will enhance databases required for job matching, while also utilizing artificial intelligence to match skills with available job opportunities as per the labor market and private sector requirements. 

On this occasion, Her Excellency Ms. Maha Abdulhameed Mofeez, Chief Executive of the Labour Fund (Tamkeen) emphasized Tamkeen’s commitment to adopting the latest advancements in technology to facilitate its programs and services, making it a priority to automate internal and external operations, therefore enhancing the impact of the support through various programs.

Her Excellency highlighted that the digital solution that will be designed in partnership with ARRAY will be utilized for job matching purposes which aligns with Tamkeen’s ongoing efforts in diversifying opportunities available to national talent in the private sector in partnership with the Ministry of Labour. 

This partnership comes in alignment with the objectives of the National Labour Market Plan (2023-2026) and Tamkeen’s 2024 strategic priorities focused on economic impact and the private sector under three pillars: increasing economic participation through new employment opportunities for new entrants, expanding career development opportunities available to Bahraini workforce, and further developing the private sector by supporting enterprises and boosting productivity and adoption of technology.     

On the significance of this engagement, ARRAY Innovation Founder and CEO Alaa Saeed said, “We are extremely pleased to be working with and supporting Tamkeen in its core mission. The innovative AI job matching solution aligns with our commitment to making a positive impact in the Bahraini labor market. The solution also showcases the strength of our Quantitative Development Team, leveraging a number of Large Language Models and cloud computing to deliver an innovative and scalable product.”  

On the applicability of ARRAY Innovation’s solutions in Bahrain, Alaa Saeed also said “ARRAY Innovation is on a mission to develop cutting edge software solutions in Bahrain, and provides a wide range of capabilities ranging from application development, data analytics, artificial intelligence and machine learning that many organizations will benefit from.” It is worth mentioning that ARRAY is an AI and cloud native digital solutions firm that offers a wide range of solutions and services such as app development, data analytics, cloud computing, and artificial intelligence.

Reboot Coding Institute (Reboot01), a leading coding institute in Bahrain, and Raincode (raincode.tech), a Scandinavian software solutions provider, announced a strategic partnership today at the Bahrain Pavilion, powered by Tamkeen, on the sidelines of GITEX Global in Dubai. This collaboration signifies a major step forward in reinforcing Bahrain’s position as a growing hub for tech innovation in the MENA region, with Reboot01 playing a pivotal role in attracting Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) to the Kingdom through international partnerships.

As part of this venture, Raincode will establish its developer hub in Bahrain to foster seamless interaction and collaboration between the two tech companies. The Swedish office of Raincode will focus on sales and marketing, further strengthening this collaboration.

This agreement follows the success of a five-month pilot program, during which Reboot01 talents worked closely with one of Raincode’s Scandinavian clients. A key component of this partnership is the introduction of an internship-to-employment program specifically designed for Reboot graduates. Through the Raincode Talent Hub, students will have the opportunity to work Part-Time on real-world projects for Scandinavian firms, starting with an internship stipend of BD400 per month. Successful candidates will transition into full-time roles upon graduation, with Raincode aiming to hire 80 developers from Reboot Coding Institute by the end of 2025 and 250 developers by the end of 2028. Graduates from the Reboot01 program, including fresh university graduates, can expect starting salaries exceeding BD1,000 if they join Raincode.

“We are thrilled to announce this strategic partnership with Raincode, which will cultivate a strong pool of Bahraini tech talent while integrating their skills with the dynamic Scandinavian work culture to meet the growing demands of the market,” said Yanal Jallad, Managing Director of Reboot Coding Institute. “By joining forces with Raincode, we are leveraging our strengths to provide unmatched opportunities for our talents and foster innovation in the tech sector. Our comprehensive two-year program consistently produces high-quality, mid-senior level coders who surpass industry benchmarks. This collaboration not only offers international exposure but also enhances Bahrain’s tech ecosystem by attracting leading global firms, ultimately contributing to the Kingdom’s broader economic development.”

Connor de Freene, Managing Director of Raincode Bahrain commented, “We’re delighted to partner with the Reboot Coding Institute. Their exceptional talent was a significant factor in our decision to establish Bahrain as our developer hub. Having worked closely with their graduates for months, we’ve been consistently impressed by their skills and dedication. We’re excited to collaborate with Bahrain’s top tech talent and tap into the Kingdom’s growing potential as a thriving tech destination for our Nordic client base.”

Musab Abdullah, Executive Director of Business Development for the ICT sector at Bahrain EDB, stated: “Bahrain EDB is thrilled to see this partnership between Reboot Coding Institute and Raincode.”

“This collaboration perfectly exemplifies Bahrain’s advantages to tech companies with a focus on fostering a skilled and tech-savvy talent pool. As demonstrated by Reboot01’s impressive results, it creates an ideal environment for innovation and growth. We are confident that Raincode’s decision to establish their developer hub in Bahrain will be mutually beneficial, attracting further investment and propelling the Kingdom’s position as a leading tech hub in the MENA region.”

In line with the strategic partnership, Raincode assessed Reboot talents using Alva Labs, a renowned and advanced Scandinavian evaluation platform designed for companies to test candidates before hiring.  The assessment yielded exceptional results: Reboot students with less than a year of programming experience achieved a perfect score of 100% in logic and over 90% in coding skills, significantly exceeding the benchmark in Europe set for those with three years of experience. Moving forward, Reboot plans for all students to undergo the same testing to effectively benchmark and track their skill levels.

With a steadily growing student base of approximately 400 and partnerships with over 20 strategic and hiring partners, Reboot Coding Institute is set to revolutionize Bahrain’s tech landscape. Reboot01’s innovative two-year curriculum, supported by Tamkeen, integrates full-stack development with specialized fields, positioning Bahrain as a key producer of top-tier tech talent, ready to meet the demands of both regional and global markets.